Michael Wesely
Neue Nationalgalerie, 160401_201209, 2021

Artist
Michael Wesely

Title
Neue Nationalgalerie, 160401_201209

Year of creation
2021

Technology and dimensions
200 x 360 cm, acrylic inkjet print, metal frame

Year of acquisition
2021

At the beginning of the renovation, Michael Wesely installed four cameras in the middle of the hall, each aimed at one side of the facade. Until the end of 2020, they took an image every minute from sunrise to sunset. Wesely's long-term photography is condensed time, an archeology of processes. The superimposition of countless moments of the renovation phase leads to a blurring of everything living, while the immobile forms the frame. The Neue Nationalgalerie is clearly visible through its characteristic steel-glass facade and ceiling; the goings-on on the construction site are only a mere idea. Light is particularly important for the color of photography. Because of the cantilevered roof, sunlight can only shine directly into the building in the morning and evening. These light-filled moments in time result in the orange-red coloring of the prints.